Railroad switch



Oct. 20,1925 1,557,626

' P. SWANSON RAILROAD SWITCH Filed Feb. 16, 1925 Qwumtoc WANS N.

Patented Oct. 20, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,557,626. PATENT OFFICE.

JPETEB Swanson, or ELY, INNESOTA,

I RAILROAD SWITCH.

Application filed February 16, was. Serial No. 9,370.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER SWANSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ely,

in the county of St. Louis and State of Minswitch being left unlocked even thoughnot thrown to dangerous position. 1

Other objects and advantages will appear in the further description of the invention.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this application, and in which like reference characters indicate like parts: i a

Figure 1 is an elevation ofthe switch target or signalling device in an all clear po- S1t1OI1;

Figure 2 is a similar view illustrating the target and lamp signalling that the siding is open, or danger font-he main line;

Figure 3 is a similar view showng the danger signal in the event of the switch being left unlocked even though turned for all clear position for the main line;

Figure I} is a top plan view of the lamp target, showing the lamp in dotted lines; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the main target.

At 1 is illustrated an ordinary switch stand, provided with an operating lever 2, pivoted as at 3, to the supporting links 4, and by which the switch is thrown, the lever 2 being pivoted as at 5 upon the switch stock 6, which is rotated when the lever is raised subsequent to the unlocking of same and which may be accomplished in various ways.

In the improved form of switch the looking lug 7, which is usually single, I prefer to make double, forming a guide in which the target operating rod 8 is engaged either when held by the padlock 9 or free therein when the target drops.

to switch signaling This operating rod 8 extends upwardly to a bracket 10 securely attached to one wing of the target, and'there are two of these brackets 10 spaced apart one upon either side of the target stafi O. p 1

These brackets are held in position on the staff by there being a through hole in, the staff and a boltindicated at 11 which passes through the brackets and the stafhthe bolt carrying upon either side of thestaif a "gas pipe sleeve 12 which is out atone end to fit the corner angle of thestaff and at the other end extending within holes sufficiently; large for such purpose in the brackets' l0, so that the head of the bolt at one end and the nut at the other end impinge against the sleeves 12 in preference to the brackets 9 which permits of the latter rotating freely uponthe ends of the sleeves, though not separable therefrom so long as the bolt is held tightly in position; this making a very practical and substantial manner of mounting the target on the staff. 1

The rod Sis pivotally attached as at 13, space'd horizontally from the pivotal mounting of thebrackets, so that any movement of the rod tends to oscillate thebrackets upon their support.

Now the target comprises a peculiarly shaped three-winged member composed of the angularly disposed normally vertical wings 14; and15, united by the intermediate horizontal wing 16. The wing 16 is rigidly mountedupon the bracketsxlO so that the entire target is rockable withthe bracket-s. So

long as the rod '8 is in its uppermost extended position with the padlock 9 holding same in such position, the brackets 10 with the target will be horizontally disposed in its all clear position such as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings; but should the padlock 9 be removed, thus disconnecting the rod 8 from the lugs 7 and allowing same to fall, the target will drop to the position shown in Figure 3 regardless of whether the switch stafl is rotated or not, thus indicating a danger signal, as both sides of the wing 16 of the target carry a red bulls eye as does also the wing 15, while the wing 14 carries a white or safety bulls eye upon both sides. Now should the switch be subsequently turned as it can only be after the removal of the look just described the danger signal signal still is in evidence as shown in Figure 2, for the all clear wing 14; can be viewed only edgeways. Should the switch by any means be left partly thrown it is quite obvious that the danger on both the wings 15 and 16 would appear at' an angle to either line of traffic, thus insuring positively against any misunderstanding of the signal. On the back of the wing 14 is attached-a re-- silient spring member 17 so that when the ar t s; up against t e'stefi the SfimBWl n a the st fi and. pr ent a ling 0f; th arget h eeg stlso-v the arge just serib i he taf is squared oppositely to that portionbelow he. ta get, and; ha fast-eneditherei as. at; We. re arms, 1.9. Wll Ql @Qd'-l1PQ QPPQ' te sid s 'ithe s a endsilppe t pon their nds, a at 20, he h me alhi l is ne p e e theride et li is efi, i

1s ter in of the e sub tantial y haped sh elds i semi-simmerin shap t; 2. 0 act-1 as a sl i j dibeh nd whic he" qlefed: g a 23 of he 1 da gerna arm e is hidwhes e gna a m s inactive? Wh e. th pposite en s 215 the: shi ld embers; as sunpert for h th ough hg gijzontal shaft ZfifiWhiQh pivi talrly" sup: ports the nge signa'lmine. 24;, th y" being mpqsied of; s nglepiece 11: thin me al of gei'i eral ill-shape endmeunted u on the shaf s. Cl ar y seen in F gure. 4 bit the drawings. Protruding rearwar'dly of the horizon al portion 27' 0:5 the signal arin st ucture a e spaced lugs 28- into which i ivotally connected asjat; 29; the signal arm I perat ng red; 3Q,fthe Opposite end; of said rod being pivotally connected as at 31 to one of the brackets 105 so thatia's the target,

comprising the wings 14, 1*5;'"andr'16, is'o p in'all olear position as' shOWIi in Figurel'of" the drawings; the 'signal arms carrying their danger-'bullls eye willbe hid behind the shield: '22 so that the is f lar rigidly united target wing-s nalling nean's'f lin'test monywhereof I hereunto aflix my more, as is'evident, ifthe staff is turned by the turning of the switch to danger position,; the lamp i then the danger or red lightg' will show in the usual way. v

From the foregoing itis evident that-l have provided a simple and: dependable form or target for a railroad switch which I not only indicates the position-of the switch but any tampering therewith, and 'one an tomat ically operable'inconjunctioh with the lamp of a switch so oiency at night. a

Havingthus described my invention,

and desire to secureby Letwhat I claim ters Patent, is:

.1. A gravity target for railroad switch stands comprising three angular": rigidly united target wings, substantially as" de scribed.

as to affor q la ifil 2. The combination with .airaili'oad switch stand, of an automatically gravitating target thereforl comprisingthreel angu-' 3. The combination with i switch stand carrying an independently adjustable target thereupon and'lock therefor,

of: means whereby unlocking otthe' switchautomatically operates the target 4. The combination -with a railroad switchstand of'the typ e described carrying signalling met-11$ and locking a s lea-"i116 switch,'of means whereby the "unlocking of the swltchautomat c lly Operates the g signature;

a railroad 

